Fatal Route 539 Accident in Whiting Being Investigated

Tragedy in Whiting for an Allentown, New Jersey couple whose Jeep Liberty left the roadway on County Route 539, struck a tree and overturned late Monday morning near Roosevelt Boulevard.

Police say, the accident occurred at around 10:58 and the couple was properly belted in but had to be extricated from their vehicle. 70-year-old Karen Olsen died as a result of her injuries. She was at first transported to Community Medical Center with severe head trauma, stabilized and airlifted to the Jersey Shore University Medical in Neptune where she was pronounced dead.

Her Husband, 70-year-old Robert S. Olsen was airlifted to Jersey Shore with chest injuries. He's listed in stable condition.

The accident also claimed the life of the family dog, who suffered severe injuries to its back legs and had to be euthanized.

Assisting at the scene was the Whiting Volunteer Fire Department, Paramedics from MONOC, Quality Medical Transport, the Ocean County Criminalistic Investigation Unit, and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. The crash remains under investigation by Patrolman Ian Bole and Patrolman Doug Higgins from the Manchester Township Traffic Safety Section.